US plans major action against Venezuelan drug networks on the mainland

"Very soon", the United States plans to extend its action against Venezuelan drug traffickers to the mainland. This was announced by US President Donald Trump during a virtual conversation with members of the military.

"You've probably noticed that people don't want to deliver by sea, and we're going to start preventing them from doing that by land," he added, adding that they are already preparing to expand operations.

The Venezuelan government did not immediately comment on his statement. The Trump administration has long alleged that President Nicolás Maduro plays a role in the import routes of illegal drugs heading to the United States, a charge Maduro has repeatedly denied.

U.S. forces in the Caribbean and the Pacific have so far conducted mostly maritime counter-narcotics operations. Washington has deployed significantly more forces to the region than these operations would normally require. Since September, the US military has carried out at least 21 strikes on suspected drug boats, killing at least 83 people.

(reuters, max)